Wednesday, May 7, 2008

What the heck did I say?

Anybody ever do an interview, a toast, or any sort of public speaking engagement and wonder afterwards ... what the heck did I just say?

Immediately after the hour long interview I bopped over to next door neighbor's house and she asked me how it went and what they asked and how I responded ... and quite honestly - I DON'T REMEMBER!! Ok, I remember some of the things I said (like she asked me if being able to use this technology brings me hope - or something like that - and I said "like any good infertile, of course I have hope that this will work ... otherwise I wouldn't be doing all these treatments")

And I remember telling her there's no silver bullet in fertility treatments. (That's why our RE's make so much money, right?) I told them about how Berilac and I waited to have babies and how we later learned of my early menopause and how we regretted not starting earlier - but what can you do, you can't regret stuff like this, right? We told them about the miscarriages and the advantages this testing has over embryo screening - but they didn't bite on those questions/answers. She asked me what I would say to women who are waiting to have children and I said "don't wait!" ... I mentioned that fertility preservation gives women who are older - who've found themselves trying to have kids alone (as single moms) the opportunity to freeze their eggs and wait until they've found a spouse - I didn't sell it hard, but the advantage is there. They asked me if this was our last resort and I told them I've only been at this for two years - I know plenty more women that have been at it longer. I discussed donor sperm, donor egg, donor embryo, and adoption as options we haven't even gotten to yet - I told them our path could be much longer. They asked me where I wanted to be in a year and I smiled and said that I wanted to be about 4 months pregnant - see, there's still hope.

As I write this post I remember snippets of things I said.

And of course I'm worried about how my hair looked, whether my clothes were twisted up awkwardly, if my makeup was even on both sides of my face ... I'm so vein.

I did talk about how fertility declines after 35 years of age - not to discourage any of my "AMA" friends who are trying to have children - but rather to warn young whipper snappers who think they have oodles of time before they can start trying.

I think I smiled. I think I didn't make a complete @$$ out of myself. After she left I realized that my RE will watch this. Great, now I'm going to look all self-righteous and "well informed" (or so I think!) ... I just know he's going to razz me for any medical data type of statements that the reporter might take out of context! He already thinks I drive too much of the treatment! (cuz, well, I do *blush* or at least I try to ... I'm such a control freak)

They interviewed Berilac first and then we got an action shot of Berilac and I turning the pages of our "dating" scrapbook album (I'm a scrap-booker, in case I hadn't mentioned it). Then they interviewed me, then they took a few shots with me and my neurotic dog JD. I'm kind of bummed they got the shot with the infertile and her dog ... I don't want to be thought of as the stereotypical "bitter dog lady" ...

So that's it - they are gone. The reporter said the news story should come out within a few weeks. So we'll see how she slices and dices it. It'll be interesting to see if it ends up looking anything like the story our responses told.

12 comments:

  1. Polly - It sounds like the interview went pretty well. I'm so glad!

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  2. It sounds like things went great, Polly. I am sure you gave an incredible interview. You write very well and I am sure your speaking skills are just as great.

    I'm sure your hair looked fabulous too. (:

    Can't wait to see the interview now!!

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  3. HA!!! That's fabulous! I can't wait to see it. I'm sure you were articulate and well spoken. And, I'm sure your hair and makeup looked beautiful. You're a beautiful woman, inside and out.

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  4. My only concern for you, is possibly posting a link to the interview on this blog. (Don't do it, unless you do some serious editing, bleeping out real names, and bleeping out the station identification).

    Sorry, blogsphere friends, but I think the interview should only be seen by those that know her IRL.

    I'm sort of against having real names on the internet. What? You didn't know Polly was a pseudonym? ;-)

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  5. Yay!it sounds like you gave a really good interview! How exciting!

    I would love to see it, but am in Australia! Any chance of posting it on your blog? or is there a website I can go to?

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  6. I bet you did fantastic!! Who knows how they'll twist the info, but hopefully they'll do the piece justice and give some ladies some hope. This sounds like a positive form of treatment for several different scenarios for fertility that women face.

    Way to go!

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  7. I know you did very well and looked awesome!! I can't wait to see you on You Tube!!

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  8. I'm sure it went great!!! and I'm positive you looked great!!! OOOh, didn't know you scrap-booked.. i'm very interested in getting started, it is alot of fun.... back to subject...... I'm sure it will be a great report!!! Can't wait to see it!

    Take care!
    XOXO

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  9. I know you gave a better interview than I did. Viewers will probably all be saying "she should really consider donor sperm." :(

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  10. I'm betting your makeup was even. And I'm sure you did a nice job. Hope they don't do truly weird editing, but be prepared to see one or two of your snippets to be sandwiched between oddly chosen commentary.

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  11. Berilac-"donor sperm" Too funny. You got a funny guy, there, Polly.

    I bet you looked ravishingly beautiful and sounded incredibly informed and well presented.

    I'm proud of you for having the courage to share your experience.

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  12. I came across a Daily Devotional Book which may be of interest to you. "Moments For Couples Who Long for Children" by Ginger Garrett. Perhaps it will provide daily insight and hope along your journey. It's only $2 on Amazon.

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